Just completed construction of a 55 square meter one-bedroom one-bath home in southern Buri Ram just off Hwy 24 between Nang Rong and Prakhon Chai on some nearby built-up land my wife has owned for years. Cost <350,000 baht, construction time ~6-weeks (well except for the sub-contracted front-doors due tomorrow). For many farangs planning to build their 'dream' home there may be a need for temporary home during construction that can be turned over to the in-laws after construction.
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While we are not going to live there, we could (I, and now we, live in an apartment half that size in the U.S., and I have lived there for the last twenty-three years). Upgrades that would be needed for 'western' living would include an air conditioner, a water tank and pump, a water heater and shower enclosure, some kitchen cabinets, and a cement driveway and carport - probably another 100,000 baht.
I put up the photos on Flickr (which will be active as long as I am around as it has all of our photos from our seven-years together). Here is the description of the process from the web page:
The house plan is a simple one-bedroom, one-bath cinder block / galvanized steel roof home of about 600 square feet costing around 345,000 Thai baht (11,000 USD). Cement block and steel roof is the typical construction method here as wood for framing is expensive and subject to termites and shrinkage because it is not kiln dried.
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The primary difference between a true 'village' house and this one is that the materials were delivered as needed and not as cash became available, and that they were all name-brand, 'premium economy' quality (e.g. BlueScope steel roofing, Panasonic and Safe-t-Cut electrical, and Jotun paints). The primary difference between this and a 'Western' spec'd home is the lack of a water heater for the shower in an 'open' plan bathroom and the 'cement' kitchen.
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Construction is complete except for the 'out-sourced' front doors which will be installed in a few days, so main construction lasted 6-weeks and move-in-ready less than 7-weeks by a crew of 4-persons most days.
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Good chance that the necessary ceremony before moving in (and, of course, more food) will take place late this month or early next month.
if this kind of a project is of interest to you the photos are on:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/901919...57705630795894